First-time visitors to the vibrant, exhilarating city of Seoul can find the fast-paced capital of South Korea daunting yet highly addictive. Keeping up with the locals definitely needs to be fuelled by good food. Cheap-and-cheerful to worth-every-cent-expensive, there really is no excuse not to eat well when visiting Seoul.

“The concept is casual but the food is really tasty and goes really well with their wine selection. I recommend the terrine.”

Lunch pick: Hadongkwan (12, Myeongdong 9-gil, Jung-gu). A 70-year-old restaurant in Myeong-dong, Jongno-gu that first opened in the 1930s, it serves two delicious items: gomtang (beef bone soup) and suyuk (boiled beef) with two side dishes of radish kimchi and kimchi.

“It’s the best beef soup place in Korea.”

Food shopping: Gyeong-dong Market (147, Wangsan-ro, Dongdaemun-gu)

“At Gyeong-dong Market are the best seasonal local products you can find.”

2. Chef Bongsu Kim

“Jungsik is the first Korean restaurant to be listed in the Michelin Guide – two stars in the New York edition. [Jungsik has one star in the inaugural Michelin Guide for Seoul.] It serves a unique form of contemporary cooking; I worked there and have good memories. If you want something more local, try Table for Four in Taean (11 Sapyung-daero 14-gil, Seocho-gu).”

3. Chef Justin Lee

Favourite Restaurant:Lab24 by Edward Kwon. The sleek and tasteful setting here screams luxury, while its open kitchenmakes the experience a feast for the eyes and taste buds with contemporary French cuisine on the menu. Truffle cappuccino, scallop foie gras and rib-eye, and that’s just on the lunch tasting menu.

“I highly recommend the Chef’s Signature course.”

Lunch pick: Mangwondong Instant Udong (83, Donggyo-Ro)

“I really like noodles, which can be enjoyed anytime, especially after a long day of working in my Dessert Bar – they open until midnight. I highly recommend the Korean-style noodles (with spice) and pairing it with a big, crispy, tonkatsu pork cutlet. ”

4. Chef Jisun Joung

“I’ve really liked this restaurant since my first visit. It has a great atmosphere and the servers are friendly; it is very clean, which makes it perfect for a date too! It is very close to my restaurant and while I really enjoy eating Chinese food a lot, sometimes you want something a little different. I always order the Spicy Orzo pizza (with two poached eggs) but the pasta is just as good.”

Lunch pick: Okdongsik (385-6 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu)

“The pork soup is the best here – clean and fresh broth which seems so simple but has a rich and deep taste; it is also really affordable. It is starting to get a lot of recognition from food guides like the Michelin Bib Gourmand.”

Food shopping: Mangwon market (486-8 Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu)

“Take subway line no. 6 to Mangwon station and look out for Mangwon market. It is one of the most traditional markets you can find in Korea and gives me a lot of good memories. On the streets, look for Basakmacha (crispy cart), selling fresh pork cutlet.”